Tirukkural-On Virtue-Fear of Evil-Kural 201

The very thought of wrong-doing frightens good men;Bad men do not possess this precious quality.

Obviously habit has blunted their sensitiveness and so these bad these bad men have lost their natural hesitancy about doing wrong and have become really wanton in their attitude to life. The reference 'Theevinaiyaar' or bad men is obviously to 'habitual' and 'wanton' or professional criminals and not to casuals or to the victims of circumstances and environment. Only good men have that fear of evil.

This fear of evil, even in thought or 'Theevinayachcham' is something, which it will be useful to cherish through life. This chapter, therefore, deals with various aspects of the concept of the fear of evil, which is just another explanation for the idea of 'conscience'. That is probably why Aeschylus said:

'To be free from evil thoughts is God's best gift'.

The word 'Serukku' has been explained differently by different people. Parimelalagar interprets it as delusion, while Manakudavar would give it the meaning of inebriation and Parithiar and Kalingar would call it just sin. Anyone of these would fit in, as the attitude referred to, is one of sinful pride, which is really a delusion